Awareness of colorectal cancer signs and symptoms: a national cross-sectional study from Palestine

BMC Public Health

Ibrahim Al-Slaibi¹  Balqees Mustafa Mohamad²  Mohamedraed Elshami³  Ranin Mufid Abu Nemer⁴  Marah Naser Alarda⁵  Nada Mahmoud Almadhoun⁶  Sondos Mahmoud Skaik⁷  Yahya Ayyash Qabaja⁸  Raneen Raed Sweity⁸  Mohammed Majed Ayyad⁸  Bashar Yaghi⁸  Iyas Imad Awwad⁸  Rinad AlSharif⁸  Fatima Khader Hmdan⁸  Maram Elena Albandak⁸  Khayria Ali Assaf⁹  Mohammad Fuad Dwikat⁹  Amani Saleh Alsattari^1,10  Ali Younis Alnaga^1,10  Belal Khalil Alhabil^1,10  Remah Tayseer Jneed^1,10  Moumen Sameer Aboyousef^1,10  Mohammed Madhat Hmaid^1,10  Wejdan Sudki Isleem^1,10  Bettina Bottcher^1,10  Omar Abdallah Aljbour^1,10  Christy Teddy Giacaman^1,11  Nasser Abu-El-Noor^1,12  Shoruq Ahmed Naji^1,13  Mohammed Alser^1,14  Adela Shurrab^1,15 

[1] Almakassed Hospital;Beit Jala Governmental Hospital (Al-Hussein);Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center;Faculty of Allied Medical Sciences, Arab American University;Faculty of Dentistry, Arab American University;Faculty of Medicine, Al-Azhar University;Faculty of Medicine, Al-Quds Abu Dis University Al-Azhar Branch of Gaza;Faculty of Medicine, Al-Quds University;Faculty of Medicine, An-Najah National University;Faculty of Medicine, Islamic University of Gaza;Faculty of Nursing and Health Sciences, Bethlehem University;Faculty of Nursing, Islamic University of Gaza;Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Azhar University of Gaza;Ministry of Health;Palestine Medical Complex;

关键词: Colorectal cancer;    Awareness;    Signs;    Symptoms;    Early detection;    Early presentation;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12889-022-13285-8

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Abstract Background In low-resource settings, the awareness level of colorectal cancer (CRC) signs and symptoms plays a crucial role in early detection and treatment. This study examined the public awareness level of CRC signs and symptoms in Palestine and investigated the factors associated with good awareness. Methods This was a national cross-sectional study conducted at hospitals, primary healthcare centers, and public spaces in 11 governorates across Palestine between July 2019 and March 2020. A translated-into-Arabic version of the validated bowel cancer awareness measure (BoCAM) was utilized to assess the awareness level of CRC signs and symptoms. For each correctly identified CRC sign/symptom, one point was given. The total score (ranging from 0 to 12) was calculated and categorized into three categories based on the number of symptoms recognized: poor (0 to 4), fair (5 to 8), and good awareness (9 to 12). Results Of 5254 approached, 4877 participants completed the questionnaire (response rate = 92.3%). A total of 4623 questionnaires were included in the analysis; 1923 were from the Gaza Strip and 2700 from the West Bank and Jerusalem (WBJ). Participants from the Gaza Strip were younger, gained lower monthly income, and had less chronic diseases than participants in the WBJ. The most frequently identified CRC sign/symptom was ‘lump in the abdomen’ while the least was ‘pain in the back passage’. Only 1849 participants (40.0%, 95% CI: 39.0%-41.0%) had a good awareness level of CRC signs/symptoms. Participants living in the WBJ were more likely to have good awareness than participants living in the Gaza Strip (42.2% vs. 37.0%; p = 0.002). Knowing someone with cancer (OR = 1.37, 95% CI: 1.21–1.55; p < 0.001) and visiting hospitals (OR = 1.46, 95% CI: 1.25–1.70; p < 0.001) were both associated with higher likelihood of having good awareness. However, male gender (OR = 0.80, 95% CI: 0.68–0.94; p = 0.006) and following a vegetarian diet (OR = 0.59, 95% CI: 0.48–0.73; p < 0.001) were both associated with lower likelihood of having good awareness. Conclusion Less than half of the study participants had a good awareness level of CRC signs and symptoms. Future education interventions are needed to improve public awareness of CRC in Palestine.

【 授权许可】

Unknown